Do you have travel plans that could find you in the path of a hurricane? If you are heading to the Mayan Rivera this week, here are some things you should keep in mind:
1. Call and see if you're booking is covered by a Hurricane Guarantee. Over the last five years they have become fairly standard to encourage people to continue to travel during hurricane season. They kick in when a hurricane watch or warning has been issued for your destination by the United States' National Hurricane Centre or Canadian equivalent. They don't often translate into a full refund on your trip, but depending on the company a Hurricane Guarantee can at least provide you with a variety of options to salvage your vacation investment from claiming travel credits to changing your dates of travel.
The policy is not necessarily the same for each and every hurricane; the timing and severity of the storm can affect the policy. Air Canada, for example, will currently allow passengers who are scheduled to travel to Cancun between today and Friday to change their travel plans. Beyond that, there are currently no other changes allowed.
2. Don't expect much if you are booked on a cruise. A ship can simply alter their itinerary and avoid the troubled areas.
3. Ensure that your tour operator and airline have your contact number at your destination. This is especially important if you have booked your air and hotel separately. If evacuation is necessary they need to be able to reach you.
If you already happen to be on the ground and a hurricane is headed your way, make sure to touch base with a manager at your resort to see what protocols are in place and clarify the procedures. Unfortunately, according to some Internet message boards, not all properties live up to the promises stated in their guarantee so make sure to get it in writing.
If a Hurricane Travel Advisory has been issued and you choose to return from your vacation destination early you can almost always do so without being charged a change fee. Some providers, like West Jet Vacations and SuperClubs, also say that if you choose to return early or are evacuated early you will receive a refund for the unused portion of your vacation package (not including air).
The most important thing to remember if you are caught in a hurricane's path is to be safe and follow instructions.
One final tip -- program the telephone number of your emergency contact into your cell phone under the acronym ICE (In Case of Emergency). This is widely recognized by paramedics world-wide and can assist in your treatment if you are incapacitated in an emergency situation.
